title: Older people's views of quality of care: a randomised controlled study of continuum of care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse frail older people's views of quality of care when receiving a comprehensive continuum of care intervention, compared with those of people receiving the usual care (control group). The intervention included early geriatric assessment, case management, interprofessional collaboration, support for relatives and organising of care-planning meetings in older people's own homes.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Prior studies indicate that tailored/individualised care planning conducted by a case manager/coordinator often led to greater satisfaction with care planning among older people. However, there is no obvious evidence of any effects of continuum of care interventions on older people's views of quality of care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Items based on a validated questionnaire were used in face-to-face interviews to assess older people's views of quality of care at three, six and 12 months after baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Older people receiving a comprehensive continuum of care intervention perceived higher quality of care on items about care planning (p ≤ 0·005), compared with those receiving the usual care. In addition, they had increased knowledge of whom to contact about care/service, after three and 12 months (p < 0·03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study gives evidence of the advantages of a combination of components such as organising care-planning meetings in older people's own homes, case management and interprofessional teamwork.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results have implications for policymakers, managers and professionals in the area of health and social care for older people to meet individual needs of frail older people.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Care Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Vårdalinstitutet, The Swedish Institute for Health Sciences, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilhelmson
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blomberg
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dunér
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kjellgren
authors.forename: Henna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hasson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: care planning; continuum of care; interprofessional collaboration; older people; quality of care; randomised controlled study